The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-09-22
FIVE MOUNDS.
A Pathetic Story of the Late War.


A Lycoming County Pa.) farmer,
blessed by the possession of broad
acres and fat cattle and fatter cash ac-
counts, had given his five sons-more
precious than all else beside-that the
Union might be preserved. His name
was Rankin. His wife was dead, and
his boys were his only solace, but WI hen
war against his country was declared,
he felt as did Volumnia, the mother
of Coriolanus, when she said: Had |
a dozen SONS, each in my love alike, |
had rather have eleven die nobly for
their country than one voluptuously
surfeit aut of action" So the Rankin
boys went to confront grim-visaged
war. The life-blood of two of these
rendered more fertile the rank growth
of the Peninsula, and their bodies lay
unclaimed amid the thousands who
had gone down in the shock of battle.
The bowed but not broken father,
came to the Governors office in Har-
risburg with his tale Of woe. Andrew
Curtin never turned a deaf ear to such
as he. He said: "You are too old
man to go after your sons bodies. [
will send a messenger for them, and
you can rest assured that you will be
enabled to give them burial"
And this was done.
After the second battle of Manassas,
the aged father again entered the ex-
ecutive chamber, and, without saying
a word, seated himself. The Governor
recognized him at once, and thought,
''can it be that this old man is afflicted
again?" He bade him approach. The
visitors voice was broken, but his
tears did not flow, as he said:
Governor, another of them has
gone"
For moment Mr.. Curtin could not
speak. He silently wrung the horny
hand of the drspoiled father When
he found voice, he said:
You must not 60. | will send for
him. You shall see hi II again"
And this was done.
When the news of the battle of
Gettysburg reached Harrisburg, Gov
ernor Curtin travelled rapidly across
country and viewed that memorable
conflict After it's conclusion, he re-
turned to Harrisburg and was seated
late at night in his room, when Ran
kin entered, without word, and qui-
etly seated himself upon chair.
my Godr' thought Mr.. Curtin, ''it
cannot be that the blow has fallen on
this old man again"
He could not bring himself to ask
the question; and for fully fifteen
minutes the two men sat in that room,
their heads upon their hands, and
neither uttered a word. At last the
old man said, as he steadied his voice:
Governor, the other two are gone"
THE other two? This is terliblle"
"Yes, Governor, the other two.
They have taken them ALL
He wished a pass to enter the lines
that he might take home his silent
sons,
"You are too DID," said the anguish
ed Governor. Il will send for them
and they shall be taken home"
After Governor Curtin had returned
to this country at the close of his five
years residence at the Court of Rus
sia, he was in Philadelphia when it
was intimated to him that MIR. Ran
kin, who was still alive, would be
highly delighted if his benefactor
would pay him visit whin the ex-
Minister was ON his way to his home
in Centre County Mr.. Curtin SAID
that he would comply with the wish,
and when he reached the railroad sta
tion nearest to the Lycoming County
farmers home, he found the old man
waiting for him with carriage That
evening the people Of the surrounding
country, at Mr. Rankin's bidding,
fiocked to do honor to the ex-Gover-
nor.
The next morning, after partaking
of breakfast such as only Pennsyl- |